4.47pm: Bradley Wiggins and defending champion Cadel Evans trailed close behind in the pack but were just off the pace going into the final stretch.

William Fotheringham: "great finish by Sagan. brutal finale, interesting to see who has lost time."

4.39pm: From the Tour...

With his second place today, Fabian Cancellara has proven how versatile he is. He might not have been able to beat Peter Sagan in the stage but he's still the leader of the Tour de France.

4.36pm: Also a good effort from Boasson Hagen to claw his way back into the top three. Chris Froome finishes 1min 30secs off the pace.

4.34pm: Sagan the Slovakian takes the stage after a breathtaking finish, but what a great effort from Fabian Cancellara to drag the front three over the line and separate them from the peloton.

4.33pm:Peter Sagan takes it at the death!

4.32pm: Cancellara is tiring as the line approaches...

4.31pm: Boasson Hagen in third and he is catching the front two...

4.30pm: Cancellara has gone for it! The yellow jersey leads with 1km remaining!

4.29pm: Chivanel makes a charge with under 2km to go, he doesn't look like he's got enough. Cavendish is way back...

4.28pm: Evans is now back in with a shout after some fine positional work to give the Australian champion a chance...

4.27pm: Cadel Evans is off the pace as his team-mates try and guide him towards the front. Fabian Cancellara about 12 back.

4.27pm: From the Tour...

Edet (COF) has received the most votes for the combative classification. He will get a red dossard for his part in today's escape group.

4.25pm: Mark Cavendish tries to make his way round the outside as the riders swing from one side of the road to the other.

4.23pm: Lotto-Belisol are in charge and have four riders at the front, but it's all over the place at the front now as the riders tussle for the prime positions. A few roundabouts and tough, technical corners coming up.

4.21pm: Maxime Bouet is the only man in the leading pack to make an attempt at staying with the peloton, but he soon falls back like his other escapees. It looks like his afternoon at the head is over, with just over 7km remaining...

4.20pm: 10km to go but five seconds now the gap. Soon to be overtaken...

4.20pm: Update from the Tour...

Peter Velits and Remy Di Gregorio are two riders who have dropped out of the bunch in the last minute to get service from their respective mechanics.

4.16pm: Team Sky not at the front of the peloton at the moment and need to get in a stronger position if they are going to challenge at the finish.

4.14pm: The riders cross La Meuese river, 15 seconds in it as the sun bounces off the rippling water...

4.12pm: It's quick stuff now as Team Sky look to protect Wiggins and get Cavendish up there. The gap to the leading six is 20 seconds.

4.10pm: Valverde, Monfort and Voeckler were some of the riders involved in the second incident.

4.09pm: So daft from that spectator, I'd be furious if I was in that pack, although it's a scene we've seen too many times over the years. The gap is now less than 30secs with under 20km remaining.

4.07pm: Another big pile-up in the peloton! It's chaos out there as the pace increases and a clown of a spectator gets too close to the riders, clipping one who goes to ground and stopping others in their tracks. Everyone is up and okay, though Luis Sanchez looks in a wee bit of pain.

4.05pm: There's been a collision in the peloton and Michael Rodgers from Team Sky is involved...he looks in a bit of pain as he gets back on the bike. More as we get it...

William Fotheringham: "one of the hardest stages to pick a winner for. Boasson Hagen, Giblet and Valverde the names that come to mind. Maybe Evans in the mix too"

3.59pm: Other teams have now moved closer to the front of the chasing pack, Lotto-Belisol, BCM, Orica-GreenEdge and Sky are all there or thereabouts, and they can now sniff the leading six.

William Fotheringham: "squeaky bum time... finale of first road stage in Tour always a nervewracker.. and the second. and the third. should settle down in week 3"

3.51pm: Jens Voigt continues to lead the peloton now as we approach the 30km mark, with the gap almost creeping under one minute.

3.48pm: A lot of criticism on Twitter for the new yellow helmets. In case you missed it earlier, they now go to the leading team on each day. It's yellow fever out there, although it can sometimes be more difficult to pick out the maillot jaune.

3.45pm: Well there is just 40km to go now on this 198km stage, one category four climb remaining but the tension and anticipation is building ahead of a crucial finish. The roads will begin to wind with 6km remaining before a sharp right turn on 3km, further climbing and cobbled street. The riders in the peloton look relaxed as they edge closer to the leading six, and spectators are out in force under the Belgian clouds – that drizzle from earlier seems to have abated though, let's hope it stays that way.

3.38pm:Gary Naylor emails:

Back in the old days, a rider with an eye on the rainbow jersey or an Olympic gold would do a few favours in the Tour for lesser riders and teams in order to get them back at their major target later in the season. There was nothing underhand about this - alliances were made on the road and a "patron" could always call upon more than his eight team-mates - it added to the complexity of the sport. But does it still go on?

William Fotheringham: "Christian Knees with Wiggo in slipstream most of the last few hours, think it will be a familiar sight in next week or two"

3.29pm: Radioshack are doing all the work at the head of the chasing pack, with Jens Voigt doing the driving in the wind with eight team-mates in his slipstream.

3.26pm: The gap has now been cut to 1min 40secs. The clock is ticking down...

3.23pm:James Cavell has got in touch again, and he is of the opinion that Cavendish will not be able to mount a challenge as we approach Seraing...

I wish we could drop this idea that Cavendish might win today. He is the worst climber in the peloton, and losing 4 kilos isn't going to bring him into contention for an Ardennes uphill finish. He himself has said he isn't going to go for it today. Today is all about the likes of Gilbert, Valverde, Evans, perhaps even a little dig from Vino or Hoogerland. It is purpose built for those riders with an explosive kick uphill, and there is also a headwind at the finish. The sprinters won't even be in the first group today. Greipel can climb way better than Cavendish and has said it is too hard for him to even bother.

3.17pm: Michael Morkov is the quickest up the Côte de Barvaux climb, meaning he will be wearing the polka dot jersey tomorrow.

3.16pm: Yohann Gene, winner of the sprint points, has to change bikes but his position doesn't look as though it will be compromised, as he charges off to go and rejoin the leaders. Good job that switch came before the pace begins to increase.

3.14pm: Urtasun is leading the escape on the fourth climb, with the lead having now been whittled down to 2mins 19secs.

3.11pm:Graham Fulcher...

Will be interesting to see how Cavendish fares today. Last year he wouldn't have tried to feature in the finale - but he is 4kg lighter this year and has implied he is as likely to feature on hillier stages as on out and out bunch sprints (all part of his preparation for multiple ascents of Box Hill).

3.07pm: The peloton is picking up the pace and one thinks it will not be long before they have chased down the leading pack. Gap has been cut by a minute to 2mins 48 with just over 60km remaining.

William Fotheringham: "Goss 7th Cav 8th in first intmediate sprint behind break. going for points because they are there and you never know"

2.59pm: 67km to Seraing now as the conclusion to the stage creeps near. Going to be an intriguing one that's for sure, Mark Cavendish picking up eight points in the latest sprint.

2.46pm: It looked like Matt Goss (Orica-Greenedge) who got ahead of Mark Cavendish there, will give you points confirmation as soon as I get it.

2.43pm: The second pack charges to the line now and there's a bit of head-bumping there, a scrappy sprint ... Cavendish pipped to the line but he'll get points for that.

2.42pm:Yohann Gene takes the intermediate sprint! He won it comfortably in the end ahead of Perez and Edet, taking the 20 points.

2.37pm: Winner of the intermediate sprint bags 20 points and the boys at the front are beginning to stretch their legs now – 45 for the overall stage, remember.

2.32pm:William Lteif on electronic mail...

The Tour is never exciting when the Alpes d'Huez and Galibier Les Alpes are crossed before the Pyrenees.

2.28pm: Not far to the intermediate sprint now and the six escapees are looking good, lead of 3mins 51secs. There will surely be some argy-bargy in the chasing pack with plenty of points up for grabs, but who will break free?

2.23pm: A bit of drizzle coming down now with 93km remaining. That could cause major problems if it persists.

2.20pm: Here's a bit of information about Seraing, where today's stage reaches a denouement.

Famous beyond its borders for the site of Val Saint-Lambert, a real gem for all stone, glass and crystal lovers, Seraing is characterized by its diverse landscapes composed of one third housing, one third forest and one third industries and businesses. It is now preparing to mark a great turning point in its history. Large-scale urban projects are now underway with, in the medium term, the creation of an urban boulevard. The boulevard, which will cross the city from east to west, will result in a reorganization of the space with the creation of new economic centres and the conversion of former industrial sites. At the same time, the city will continue to take care of its many treasures: the three castles of Jemeppe, the main Church and its baptismal fonts from the twelfth century, the site of Val Saint-Lambert and the Sérésien forests where 1,200 hectares are an excellent sports field.

2.16pm: Tony Martin keeps going back to the car after that collision earlier on, at 11km. He looks in a bit of trouble.

2.14pm: Six riders have made the break and the escapees are 3mins 47secs ahead of the pack, as they pass the 100km mark. It's all about the finish today though.

2.09pm: Michael Morkov takes the Côte de Lierneux climb and claims one point, nipping in front of Pablo Pérez who had made a charge after an initial break from Anthony Delaplace. He goes back to the top of the mountains classification.

2.05pm: So the peloton ascends the third climb, charging up the hill – category four, the easiest category, but blimey it looks pretty steep to me!

2.01pm:James Cavell emails...

Levi is an outsider for the top 5, and will be hoping for as good ride. If there is a top favourite GC candidate likely to crash out of contention in the first few days it has to be wafer thin Dutchman Robert Gesink. There are likely to be some spills later, as the finishing incline will ensure the pack splits, and too many riders will be trying to get up front at the same time.

1.59pm: Levi Leipheimer has crashed already, but he got back up and was able to rejoin the race.

1.57pm: Radioshack seem to have taken the foot off the gas a wee bit, with the lead cut to 2min 38 secs.

1.56pm: The intermediate sprint is not too far away, first comes the Côte de Lierneux, though. It's all pretty calm at the moment up front, although we are nearing that third climb...

1.52pm: Jakob Mathiszig-lee emails in with his view on today's stage, should be a good finish...

Fancy Sagan today and Cancellera might want to stamp his authority on the other classic riders after missing PR with his injury, but I think the last climb is too long for him.

1.48pm: Bradley Wiggins was 5/4 favourite for the yellow jersey this year before today's stage, ahead of the defending champion Cadel Evans, who the bookies placed at 9/4.

1.39pm: As the peloton passes the 118km mark, we see spectators dressed as witches – part of a summer festival in the local area. Hope they don't put the riders off.

1.34pm: So just to recap, Radioshack lead the peloton, followed by Team Sky and the other teams are further spread out. All calm at the moment.

Cycling Weekly: "Don't suppose Wiggins is too happy about having to wear that yellow helmet with the green jersey. They do not go well together."

1.30pm: New to the Tour this year: the leading team each day will wear yellow helmets, with the honour this afternoon going to Team Sky.

1.26pm: A snippet from the official Tour website about the city of Liège...

The Place Saint-Lambert hosted the official ceremony of the Tour de France, a place devastated on 13 December 2011 by an act of madness by a crazed gunman who took six innocent lives and injured over a hundred . The organisers wished to honour them while the Liégeois felt united in adversity: "They have always held their heads high" in the words of the sixteenth century Michel de l'Hospital, Francis I's Chancellor, quote engraved on the walls of the city. Third largest city in the country and economic capital of Wallonia, Liège has turned the page from a heavy industrial past and invested resolutely in industries of the future like biotechnology, space and sustainable development.

1.20pm: Yaroslav Popovych is leading the Radioshack-Nissan pack at the front, protecting Fabian Cancellara. A long 128km to go...

1.15pm: Today's route in Belgium has four category five climbs, with an intermediate sprint 116.5km into the 198km stretch.

1.03pm: I seem to get a perverse pleasure at watching the riders put through their gruelling paces while pretending to understand the utter pain coursing through their veins. I have the utmost respect for the guys on the Tour and let's hope this year is as thrilling as the last.

12.59pm: Afternoon everyone. It's the second day of the Tour and anticipation is high ahead of stage one. It looks like being a fascinating afternoon in the Ardennes – how will Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish fare for Team Sky?

James will be here shortly to guide you through the first stage of the Tour from Liège to Seraing. In the meantime, have a read of William Fotheringham's desription of the route...

This has a 2.5km climb at the end after some tough little climbs in the Ardennes. Stage one of the Tour is always "nervous" – remember Alberto Contador's crash last year? – and this will be no exception. The finish will favour local boy Philippe Gilbert, or defending Tour champion Cadel Evans.